IGP Kayihura will explain ASP Kirumira’s ‘brutal arrest’– Gen Otafiire
Justice Minister, Maj Gen (rtd) Kahinda Otafiire
What you need to know:
Mr Kirumira marched out of police court protesting ‘harsh ‘bail conditions that demanded him to present a senior officer in rank and to report to PSU every working day
PARLIAMENT: The Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura must answer the concerns over former Buyende District Police Commander, Muhammad Kirumira’s brutal arrest, says Justice Minister, Maj Gen (rtd) Kahinda Otafiire.
Gen (rtd) Otafiire was on Wednesday appearing before the Human Rights committee of Parliament chaired by Mitooma Woman MP, Jovah Kamateeka.
The lawmakers tasked the minister to explain why Kirumira was arrested with “inhuman” force.”
According to Gen Otafiire, the police is mandated to use relative force while effecting arrest.
“But if [the force used] was uncalled for and somebody went an extra mile to do things against the law and standard police procedure, that person must be brought to book [for] offending Kirumira’s rights and the Chief Of Police will answer for himself,” Otafiire said.
He told the Committee that there will be an assessment of the alleged highhandedness used by police officers while effecting the arrest.
Ms Kamateeka further pressed Otafiire for answers.
“Didn’t you see people cutting Kirumira’s door, getting him out like a rat?” she asked.
Otafiire said that the issue would be probed, claiming that he had not clearly followed the developments.
“I am going to bring it to the attention of the Chief of Police (Gen Kale Kayihura) and he will give us information,” said Otafiire.
However, the minister said that the process of arresting Mr Kirumira might have been caused by his own attempt to resist arrest.
“The process of arresting Kirumira, may be it was necessary but it might also have been unnecessary,” he said adding that “if Kirumira was supposed to be arrested and he resisted arrest, then the police had to use reasonable force to get him out.”
Kirumira was arrested early this month and he has since been kept behind bars in several police offenses regarding his conduct.
Last Tuesday, Mr Kirumira marched out of police court protesting ‘harsh ‘bail conditions that demanded him to present a senior officer in rank and to report to PSU every working day.
